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Timson Hill Newsletter November December 2016

View From the Timson Hill Preschool Window

Winter is here! The first snowfall came, reminding us that each snowflake offers something new and different. Diversity is important to us at Timson Hill allowing for each child to grow at his or her own unique pace. The needs of each individual child are always changing and keeping us happily on our toes. We are deeply honored to be part of your child’s early years.

It is wonderful to continually watch new friendships develop over time. Through play the preschoolers learn how to trust themselves while finding their flow in their own lives and then their spontaneity in relation to others. They all seem to understand how sharing can create a peaceful community, and that when they give to themselves and to others their hearts grow.

“Thank you for this food, this food, this glorious, glorious food, and the animals, and the vegetables, and the minerals that made it possible.”

We have been exploring what animals do in winter by reading lots of related books, singing songs, and acting out different scenarios. Everyday we open a window in an animal winter calendar and a new animal appears in the window informing us of what this animal does in winter. Thank you to Robin for sharing her calendar.

This time of year is always busy with many projects. We delved into 3-D explorations: pine cone trees, wood sculptures, edible cone trees, and clay tablets. Printing from bubble wrap paper was such a fun exploration. Since the days were getting shorter we made Starry Starry Night paintings influenced by Vincent Van Gogh’s painting. After the children made postcards for their parents, we took a trip to the Post Office and mailed them. Along the way we met our neighbor Nancy and other community members. Not only do children explore their creativity through art projects, but they also explore their creativity through their cognitive connections that they make while playing and interacting with friends. This is called magical thinking because imaginations can run wild in a free and relaxed state.

Finding a New Way to Play with Blocks and Each Other

Sandra Waite-Stupiansky a Phd from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, (2014), said:

“Play is the most important way that young children learn. Through play, children learn about the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive worlds around them. As they play with adults, they learn new vocabulary, understand culturally determined rules and roles such as how to treat one another, and build important emotional connections. When they play with their peers, they learn that others have perspectives, rights, and feelings that may conflict with their own. Playing with others is how children learn reciprocity and mutual respect, essential traits humans need to coexist in a peaceful world. Play is the way that children learn resilience and perseverance. When obstacles come their way, young children find playful ways to overcome small barriers with persistence, gumption, and skill. When they fall, they get back up. If their creations don’t work out the first time, they try and try again. These lessons stick with them for life. Play is the way that children stretch themselves. They challenge themselves to jump higher, build taller, and concentrate longer. They try out new words and make them their own. Children don’t need rewards for playing. Play is satisfying in its own right. Play is the way children learn what it is like to be an adult as they try on adult roles. They feed the baby and put him to bed, or build the next rocket ship to the moon. Anything is possible in play. Play is the way that children learn to deal with tension and stress. They pretend to be monsters and superheroes in the battle of good versus evil—and of course good always wins. It is learning at its best—authentic, natural, and intrinsically rewarding. What could be better?”

Starry Starry Night Paintings

We had a great time at our “Stone Soup Thanksgiving Lunch” and at the “Holiday Potluck Party”. We loved that not only parents and children came, but also grandparents and great grandparents joined us. The children sang and danced so beautifully. Thanks to the families for the wonderful food at both events.

The 4 Winner 50-50 Fundraiser was an amazing success! We made $1500, more than any other fall fundraiser thus far. Thank you to parents for selling the tickets, thank you to Amber Rose, Rafe and Michelle Rosen, Peter and Star Anderson for being on the committee, and again special thanks to Elizabeth Erickson for directing the event.

A reminder to label all of you child’s belongings, and also please put your child’s hat and mittens in the sleeve of their coat. This will help the outdoor preparedness move smoothly.

There is no school from December 22nd through January 1st. School reopens on Monday January 1st.

We are going through a reaccreditation process through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). An assessor from NAEYC will be visiting Timson Hill Preschool sometime between January 2nd and January 20th.

2016 is coming to an end and what a special fall we had! The hard work and commitment from the families and staff of our wonderful school has made it all possible. Thank you all, and as always thank you to the children who bring light and warmth to our hearts!